New research has shown late-onset or adult-onset acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s.

Acne affects over 50 percent of women between the ages of 20-29 and over 25 percent of women between the ages of 40-49.

This same research also found that women are more affected by adult acne than men.

Here are ten myths and then the facts about adult acne:

Adults don’t get acne. Not true and it may look different, more like reddish nodules around your mouth and jaw.

Eating chocolate and drinking soda gives you acne. The idea that chocolate and caffeine cause acne has never panned out in studies.

Stress causes acne. Maybe stress plays a role in worsening current but not any good evidence to show stress causes a breakout.

Don’t wear sunscreen, it will aggravate your acne. Key here is to pick the right sunscreen like zinc oxide.

You have acne because you’re not washing enough. Twice a day is probably better than once but more than this may actually dry out your skin too much.

Acne is just a cosmetic problem. Acne can have lasting consequences in how you feel about yourself and leave permanent scars.

You just have to wait and let acne go away with time. There are many treatments available from your primary care Doctor or Dermatologist.

You can “clear up” a pimple by scrubbing at it. Don’t pick or scrub as this is the number one way of getting a scar.

If you’re an adult, just go to the cosmetics counter and get a good face cream or cleanser. Get help from the experts who are trained to treat acne and can do much more than the over-the-counter products.

Consult with your primary care Doctor about what are the causes and risk factors for adult acne and what he/she can do to treat your acne.

Whether it be prescription medicines, lifestyle changes, home remedies or alternative methods, there is hope and help on how you can treat/prevent adult acne.